After hearing Preston First Selectman Bob Congdon describe the latest make-work program for lawyers and government bureaucrats in which towns have to get legal opinions prior to being given money from state STEAP grants, Selectman Tim Bowles decided he had heard enough.

Appalled that Preston is going to have to needlessly spend at least $5,000, Bowles boldly hung out his amateur legal shingle – "Let me just suggest we’re authorized to receive the money. The money should go for the project, not legal fees." Colleagues Congdon and Michael Sinko agreed in principle but ultimately decided that a few thousand is a small price to pay to get $1 million.

Sadly, all three predicated their arguments on the fact that the grants are "free" and "don’t cost the residents of Preston anything." Not so. It’s money out of all our pockets. The other people’s money concept is very seductive.